News

2015 Inglis Banner – $250k prizepool lures Sydney trainers

22nd Oct 2015

Racenet - by Paul Joice - Thursday 22 October, 2015

Randwick trainer John Sargent and Broadmeadow-based Kris Lees have succumbed to the dangling $250,000 carrot in sending their juveniles to Moonee Valley on Saturday for the Inglis Banner (1000m).

Sargeant’s Credible Witness and Lees’ Twist Tops were also accepted at Randwick on Saturday for the Pierro Plate (1100m), but the trainers have revealed that the youngsters will step out in the opening race for 2015 Cox Plate day.

Credible Witness ($7 Sportsbet) impressed at the official two-year-old trials at Randwick back on September 21 when runner-up behind star of the day Defcon in slick time.

"I don’t like to rush my two-year-olds,” Sargent said. "I put him out for four or five days after the trial.

"He hasn’t drawn ideally but James McDonald rides and he’s a jump and run type.

"He has come on well since the trial and this looks a good race to kick-off.

"It will be one run then out with the $500,000 Inglis bonus race in December at Randwick firmly on the agenda.”

Twist Tops ($11 Sportsbet) impressed at the official Randwick trials and has also drawn wide at Moonee Valley but Lees has put the work into his Beneteau filly and is confident of a big run.

"I’ve worked her a few times the Victorian way of going on the inside track here at Newcastle and she’s handled it really well,” Lees said.

"She was an Inglis Classic horse. They have a race at Randwick in February worth $250,000 so that will be the target going forward.”

The Robert Smerdon-trained Fontiton kicked-off Cox Plate day with a brilliant six length win in last year’s edition of the Inglis Banner.